César Lattes, O brasileiro cuja descoberta foi premiada com Nobel.

Summary

César Lattes, a pioneering Brazilian physicist, was born in Curitiba in 1924. He made significant contributions to particle physics, including discovering the pion (π meson) by studying cosmic rays. After studying in Brazil and abroad, Lattes became an influential figure in Brazilian science, founding key institutions like the Brazilian Center for Physics Research. Despite offers to work internationally, he chose to remain in Brazil, where he made lasting impacts on the field. In honor of his legacy, Brazil’s researcher curriculum platform was named after him. Lattes passed away in 2005, leaving a profound mark on the scientific community.

Takeaways

• 😀 César Lattes, born in Curitiba in 1924, was a prominent Brazilian physicist.
• 😀 Lattes received his early education from a private tutor in Porto Alegre and later studied in Turim, Italy.
• 😀 After returning to Brazil, Lattes completed his high school education and graduated in Physics from the University of São Paulo at 19.
• 😀 Lattes collaborated with notable physicists such as Gleb Wataghin and Walter Schuttz in theoretical work before shifting focus to experimental physics.
• 😀 He formed a partnership with Italian physicist Giuseppe Occhialini and worked on exposing films to radiation to measure their properties.
• 😀 In the 1940s, global physicists were questioning the proton's inability to unite in the atomic nucleus, a mystery that Lattes pursued.
• 😀 Lattes conducted research in Bristol, England, joining Aline and Frank Powell, who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1950 for work that Lattes had contributed to.
• 😀 After returning to Brazil in 1947, Lattes married Marta Siqueira Neto and had four children and nine grandchildren.
• 😀 Lattes made a groundbreaking discovery of the pion (pi meson) through cosmic ray research at the high-altitude Chacaltaya in Bolivia.
• 😀 In 1949, Lattes returned to Brazil and chose to build his career in Brazilian universities, despite offers from foreign institutions.
• 😀 Lattes contributed significantly to the development of particle accelerators and founded the Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF), helping shape the scientific landscape in Brazil.
• 😀 Lattes passed away in 2005, and the Lattes platform for Brazilian researchers was named in his honor, celebrating his legacy in science.

Q & A

Who was César Lattes and where was he born?

César Lattes was a Brazilian physicist born in Curitiba in 1924, known for his contributions to the field of particle physics.

What was significant about César Lattes' early education?

Lattes received his early education in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and spent time in Italy due to the 1930 Revolution, where he attended a public school in Turin for three months.

Where did César Lattes complete his higher education, and what degree did he earn?

Lattes graduated in physics from the University of São Paulo at the age of 19.

What major shift occurred in Lattes' research interests during his early career?

Initially focused on theoretical physics, Lattes became dissatisfied with the complications and shifted to experimental physics.

How did César Lattes contribute to the field of particle physics?

Lattes made a groundbreaking discovery of the pion (π meson) using cosmic rays, an important advancement in the study of elementary particles.

Who did César Lattes collaborate with during his research, and what was their significance?

Lattes collaborated with Italian physicist Giuseppe Occhialini and British physicist Frank Powell, the latter of whom won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1950 for their joint work on cosmic rays.

What role did César Lattes play in the development of scientific institutions in Brazil?

Lattes founded the Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF) and mentored the creation of other key scientific institutions in Brazil, helping to establish the country as a hub for scientific research.

What personal life milestone did César Lattes experience, and how did it affect him?

Lattes married Marta Siqueira Neto, with whom he had four children, and his marriage lasted until her passing in 2003.

What was Lattes' contribution to Brazilian science after his return from the UK?

After returning to Brazil in 1947, Lattes worked on building increasingly powerful particle accelerators, advancing the field of experimental physics in Brazil.

How is César Lattes' legacy honored today?

Lattes' legacy is honored through the Lattes Platform, a major academic and research database that was named after him in recognition of his significant contributions to science.